Clark, William

CLARK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/28/2021 at 23:31:55

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.919

WILLIAM CLARK
William Clark, a farmer and stock-raiser located on section 5, Otter Township, is of English descent, having been born in Lincolnshire, England, February 18, 1859, the son of Bilton and Anna (Cawthorne) Clark. He was one of fourteen children, five of whom have come to America to make their homes, while the others, who are living, reside in England. Of those who are residents of this country, G. H. resides in Lincoln Township, this County. Two brothers and two sisters reside in McLean County, Illinois. The mother died in 1888, aged forty-two years. The father still resides in Lincolnshire, England, and though he is now eighty-two years of age he is still hale and hearty and is working at his trade, which is that of tailor.
The educational advantages which Mr. Clark enjoyed were quite limited and in his desire to advance himself he attended night school. When but seventeen years of age he came to America and located in McLean County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. He was attracted to that section by his acquaintance with some English people who had removed to that locality some years previously. He resided there continuously for twenty years, dur­ing which time he made a success of his farming operations, but desirous of owning his own property, in March 1896, he settled up his business affairs in Illinois and removed to Jasper County, Iowa, from where he had received good reports of the character of the land which could be bought much more cheaply than could the desirable land of the county in which he was located. His investigations resulted in hiss purchase of his present farm of two hundred and twenty-one acres in Otter Township, this County in 1897, to which he removed and took up his residence in the spring of 1898. Here he combines the business of stock-raising with that of general farming and is regarded as a successful business man.
In 1880 William Clark was married in McLean County, Illinois, to Miss Harriet Dance. also a native of Lincolnshire, England and daughter of John and Mary (Booth) Dance. Her father was an agriculturist of that county and, following his death, her mother came to America to reside in 1871, be­coming the wife of William Johnson, of McLean County. Here she died in 1885, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Johnson survived her for six years, passing away in 1891. Mrs. Clark was one of six children, all of whom came to America with their mother. Mary died at Cuba, Fulton County, Illinois, in 1876. She had married William Malander, by whom she had three children, two sons and one daughter. Sarah married Henry Geise and died Christmas day, 1907, leaving six daughters and three sons. They all reside in Illinois, excepting one daughter who resides in Missouri and one daughter in Dakota. William, a farmer of Nebraska, married Julia Steele and they have become the parents of six children. John is a coal miner of Fulton County, Illinois. He is married and has two daughters living. Elizabeth married James D. Adams and they became the parents of six children. Following the death of her husband she was married the second time to John Tice, and they now make their home in McLean County, Illinois.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. William Clark have been born five children: Claudes R., a resident of Colorado City, Colorado, married Miss Ethel Loper and to this union have been born two children, Leverett E. and Royal William. Leslie M., a farmer of Otter Township, married Miss Pearle Labertew and they have become the parents of one daughter, Lucile Marie. Arthur B., Elmer W. and Mary reside at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is always interested in the affairs of local government and has served as township trustee for the past eight years. He has also served as school director ever since locating in this neighborhood.